DART's service changes to take effect Dec. 9

Friday

DART listened to its riders and the public after several community conversations and public hearings, and changes were made to the original proposal on services.

New schedules are available on buses and at DartFirstState.com.

For New Castle County, routes may have minor schedule adjustments to improve on-time performance and connections.

Route 4 weekday service will operate every 20 minutes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and every 30 minutes from 7 p.m. thereafter for efficiency. At this time, the proposal to serve Merchant Square Shopping Center on-site with Route 4 will not occur. DART continues to work with the private developer to negotiate a mutual agreement to serve this location on-site with a handicapped-accessible bus stop for riders to use. Service to/from Barley Mill Plaza will be continued.

Route 5 routing within Christiana Mall will be revised to serve the Park & Ride first and end at the Target bus stop to streamline the service. Weekday trips will operate every 20 minutes consistently all day.

Routes 7 and 28 will be combined and be designated as the new Route 28. Operating between the Wilmington Department of Motor Vehicles and A.I. DuPont Children's Hospital, the route will provide more direct access between the Wilmington DMV, U.S. 13 south of the Wilmington ShopRite at Christina Crossing, Fourth Street, St. Francis Hospital, Trolley Square, Nemours Clinic and A.I. DuPont Children's Hospital. Route 48 will provide alternate service between Amtrak and downtown to A.I. DuPont Children's Hospital, JP Morgan and AstraZeneca during weekday peak hours. Service will operate every 30 minutes during weekday peak hours, and off-peak will operate every 90 minutes; Saturday service will operate every 60 minutes. The routing will skip the Nemours Clinic, as the facility is closed on Saturdays.

Route 13 added Sunday morning service with an 8:45 a.m. departure from Tri-State Mall to Wilton based on customer requests.

Route 15 routing within Christiana Mall will be revised to serve the Park & Ride first, ending at the Target bus stop to streamline the service.

For Route 20, peak hour trips will be reallocated while mid-day service will be increased for better service.

Route 31 trip times will be adjusted to offer better connections to the SEPTA Train Service at the Claymont Station based on customer feedback.

Route 33 routing from Downtown Wilmington to Newark will use Washington Street to access Interstate 95 rather than Delaware Avenue/Jackson Street for improved on-time performance. At Christiana Mall, only the Park & Ride will be served, discontinuing service to the Target stop, to provide a faster ride. All transfers to other routes can be made at the Park & Ride stop.

Route 34 local service will be continued; however, Express Service will be discontinued. Existing Route 34 Express Service riders, along Christiana Road between state Route 4 and Harmony Road, will now be served by extending Route 62, linking the local neighborhoods with Fairplay Station to connect with train services to/from Wilmington and Route 33.

Route 38 will be discontinued due to low ridership. Riders can utilize Routes 11, 13 or 31 for alternative service options.

Route 40 routing from Downtown Wilmington to Newark will use Washington Street to access I-95 rather than Delaware Avenue/Jackson Street for improved on-time performance. At Christiana Mall, only the Park & Ride will be served, discontinuing service to the Target stop, to provide a faster ride. All transfers to other routes can be made at the Park & Ride stop.

For Route 45, the midday trips scheduled at 11:05 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. from Wilmington will be discontinued, as Route 301 provides an alternative option for riders destined to Christiana Mall or Odessa Park & Ride. To address mid-day service to Boyd's Corner, two mid-day trips will be scheduled at 12:45 p.m. and 2:20 p.m. These two newly added trips will connect Downtown Wilmington, Amtrak Station and Boyd's Corner, skipping Christiana Mall and Odessa Park & Ride for a faster ride.

Route 47 will use the new U.S. 301 limited-access highway instead of state Route 896 to/from Middletown when the highway is opened.

Route 48 will be revised from Amtrak Station to serve Rodney Square, JP Morgan, AstraZeneca and A.I. DuPont Hospital as a limited-stop service to offer a faster ride. Route 48 will replace the present Route 28 Service from Amtrak Station to offer easier access for riders to/from the train station. Service will operate only during weekday peak hours.

For Route 52, three mid-day round-trips will be added from Amtrak Station to Centreville at 9 a.m. 1:55 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.; and from Centreville to Amtrak at 9:29 a.m., 2:27 p.m. and 5:47 p.m.

Route 62 will be revised to offer limited service for Route 34 Express riders along Christiana Road. Morning service will depart White Clay Center at 6:45 a.m., 7:20 a.m. and 8:03 a.m.; and operate along state Route 273, Harmony Road and state Route 4 to Fairplay Station, where connections can be made to Bus Route 33 or the SEPTA Train Service to Wilmington. Afternoon service will depart Fairplay Station at 4:57 p.m. and 5:57 p.m., and follow state Route 4, Harmony Road and state Route 273 to White Clay Center. These trips are scheduled to connect with Route 33 or the SEPTA Train.

In Kent County, routes may have minor schedule adjustments to improve on-time performance and connections.

Route 107 will serve Luther Village to provide more direct access for residents.

Route 120’s schedule adjustments will be made to improve on-time performance and time between stops.

For Route 210, extending the route will better serve the new Bayhealth Sussex Campus for employees and residents.

In Sussex County, routes may have minor schedule adjustments to improve on-time performance and connections.

Routes 201 and 204 start one hour earlier at 6 a.m. for better connections with Routes 206 and 307.

Routes 212 and 215’s schedule adjustments will be made to improve on-time performance and time between stops.

Intercounty routes may have minor schedule adjustments to improve on-time performance and connections.

For Route 307, trips will now serve the new Bayhealth Sussex Campus and bus stops in Dover along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, providing more efficient routing and direct access to the local Dover area. This route will have major schedule adjustments, trips operating weekdays from the Lewes Transit Center will now be at 6:42 a.m., 9:27 a.m., 1:54 p.m., 5:52 p.m. and 8:21 p.m. Trips operating weekdays from the Dover Transit Center will now be at 5:27 a.m., 8:02 a.m., 12:29 p.m., 4:39 p.m. and 7:07 p.m.

DART will operate a reduced service schedule on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. For more, visit bit.ly/2BW4xO3.